The shoes were sold to another collector from Pahang in less than 24 hours after Wan Azim, 31, posted on Facebook of his intention to sell the collection.

He said he needed money to tide him over after having lost his income from a job in the tourist industry in Japan. He could not return to Japan when a national lockdown was imposed in Malaysia last year because of Covid-19.

Wan Azim said he set his opening price at RM40,800. Seven potential buyers contacted him, “however, one of them, a man from Pahang, wanted to buy the shoes at the price I set”.

He said he agreed to give the buyer three pairs of Converse shoes, from 1950, 1960 and 1970, as gifts.

He said the man was an antique collector, adding they still needed to iron out some matters to complete the transaction.

Wan Azim’s Facebook post went viral yesterday, shared by 7,000 people and receiving nearly 9,000 likes.

He said another similar pair of shoes was being kept at the Converse Museum in Boston.

He said the shoes in his collection came with a pair of 1916 shorts and knee protectors, usually worn by basketball players.

Wan Azim said he bought the shoes in 2018 from a couple living in the US, who were in dire need of money to treat their sick child.

“They contacted me via Facebook after seeing my posts on the history of vintage sneakers,” he said.

Wan Azim said he hoped the new owner would take good care of the precious shoes as best as he could.

Converse sneakers were originally designed for basketball players and were called “non-skid” because of their rubber soles, which were believed to provide the extra push necessary for players on the court.

The classic high-topped Converse All Star sneakers with an All Star patch are also known as Chuck Taylors, after a basketball player who became a Converse ambassador. His signature was added to the shoe in 1923.

Converse became a subsidiary of Nike in 2003.